CHAPTER 233: HIS TRUE LOVE

"I am trying to say... Duke Thompson is your uncle. And your biological father—the merchant’s son—died shortly after your mother realized she was pregnant," Grater said.

Anastasia felt her breath catch in her throat. Grater had said so much, and though she had begun to suspect the truth, she still couldn’t accept it.

"How...?"

"Your father saved the late King George, but he did not survive his wounds. Later, Duke Thompson came and made an offer to your mother. At the time, she thought he was simply being kind to his late brother’s family, so she accepted his help and returned with him to the royal city.

"He retrieved the ring the king had given his brother and presented it to the court. Back then, your mother thought he was kind and gentle. It was only when she gave birth that she realized things might not be what they seemed," Grater said.

"What happened?" Anastasia asked.

"Your mother gave birth to twins. But the labor was difficult, and she lost consciousness. When she awoke, she was told that your younger brother had been weak at birth and died shortly after.

"She grieved for days. Then she went to visit Duke Thompson in his study..."

FLASHBACK

The flickering glow of the oil lamps cast elongated shadows across the stone corridors. Lady Maureen walked softly, her silk slippers making no sound as she neared the Duke’s study. She had come to thank the Duke for his care, but halted when she heard voices inside one of them unmistakably Duke Thompson’s.

Curious and unsettled, she lingered by the slightly ajar door.

Inside, the Duke’s deep voice murmured with measured calm, "Has the matter been handled?"

"Yes, my lord," replied a man Mamod, the steward who was raised with Duke Thompson. "As you instructed, the child was... taken care of. No one will question it. The servants were told the baby did not survive the night."

A silence followed, and then a slow, cruel chuckle from the Duke.

"That child was not mine. I could not risk raising a bastard as my heir. It’s better this way. He would have carried his true father’s blood, the blood of a merchant however noble his sacrifice. My title will not pass to the son of a nobody, even if that nobody saved a king and my brother"

Maureen clutched the edge of the wall, her breath lodged in her throat.

"Do you think the king still suspects?" Mamod asked, hesitant.

"No," the Duke said with certainty. "king George was too grateful to care. I wore the wound like a badge, a few convenient lies and the truth was buried. The king believes I’m the man who saved his life. That’s all that matters."

"Your grace, I still think it was best to have cleaned everything up from the beginning," mumod said.

"What do you know? Her presence here means the king would never have a way of finding out. After all, they were those who knew that Marchant. If his entire family suddenly died and raised concerns, I might leave something behind. But now that everyone thinks the Marchant found his family and returned to become a noble is more believable," Duke Thompson wave his hand.

Maureen’s hand flew to her mouth to stifle a gasp. Her heart pounded like a war drum, and a wave of cold nausea overtook her.

"Your grace is wise," Thinking about it, Manmor felt the Duke had be careful with his plans.

"No one will ever know." Duke Thompson said with confidence

But someone had heard.

The porcelain folder in Maureen’s hand slipped and shattered on the floor, the crash reverberating through the corridor like a thunderclap.

Inside the study, chairs scraped. The door was flung open.

"Maureen." Duke Thompson stood still, momentarily frozen as their eyes met.

She stared at him, face pale and lips trembling. "You... killed my son. My child," lady Maureen could not believe this. She had thought that this man genuinely wanted to find the most convenient way to take care of his brother’s widow. She never expected to be a stupid cluless woman to him.

"He was born weak, and it would have caused a lot of suffering to let him live," Duke Thompson argued. He hope she had not heard so much.

"You liar, You took my husband’s death and wore it like a crown! You got all the benefits of his efforts but would not let him go. How cruel can you be?"

"Maureen, listen to me—" Duke Thompson began, stepping toward her.

"Don’t touch me!" she shrieked, backing away, eyes wide with betrayal. "You’re a monster! You took me in like a good Samaritan sent by heaven but you turned out a wolf that eat without spilling bones"

Mamod had the sense to step back, as if shrinking from her fury.

"If you did not want him to inherit you title you should have let me know? Why did you kill him?" Lady Maureen asked. If he had said so, she would not have blamed him for being selfish. After all, at that time she was still grateful for his help not knowing the truth.

Duke Thompson’s jaw clenched. "Lower your voice. You’ll wake the servants—"

"Let them hear!" she spat. "Let the world hear what you’ve done!"

Suddenly, his expression softened, coaxing. "Think of your daughter. Think of the life she’ll have if you remain silent."

Maureen’s breath hitched at the mention of her baby girl, peacefully sleeping in the nursery.

"You wouldn’t dare harm her," she said, voice shaking.

He didn’t respond he didn’t have to. The silence that followed chilled her more than any threat.

"You..." Lady Maureen was shocked. She did not understand how too people could look so alike but have such vest different. Her late husband and this man shared same parents. Although her late husband was only a Marchant he had a noble heart and would help whenever he could.

Perhaps, it was because they looked so alike that she had easily been fooled by his fake care and promise.

"Your daughter can continue to live a comfortable life as my daughter if you continue to pretend... Or.." although he had not completed the statement lady Maureen guess what he was going to say.

She fled, her sobs echoing through the halls, while Duke Thompson remained rooted where he stood, unmoved.

....

Says passed and lady Maureen lived in fear. She sent all the helpers that the Duke had sent to serve her. She was scared that someone would harm her daughter. She was even more scared that the Duke would hurt her

After a few days, Duke Thompson came to see her.

"Go out, " lady Maureen said unwilling to see the beast that wore the same face as her husband.

"Let me say a few words and I will live," Duke Thompson said not bother by her words.

Lady Maureen kept quiet as she held her baby close to herself. She knew that she could not win against him, so she could only hope he finishes speaking and leave.

"We have already appeared before the king as husband and wife. If you move against me, we would both end up destroyef..." He paused and looked at her.

"I guess you don’t mind getting destroyed but have you thought of what fate your daughter will have?’’ he asked.

Lady Maureen finally looked up when she heard those words. She did not want to let go of the man that stole her husband’s credit and killed their son but she also could not bear any harm coming to her daughter.

"Go, I will pretend to know nothing," After thinking for a while she still chose to protect her daughter. She could not risk her future for revenge.

Hearing that answer, Duke Thompson was pleased. He felt that let the daughter live had come with great benefits to him.

"Then get well soon," Duke Thompson said and left.

Lady Maureen cried for many days but did not dare to tell anyone about her situation.

Later, when the Duke try to get close to her she rejected him. "You the position of my wife, even if you are unwilling to satisfy my needs, you can have to birth an heir for me," Duke Thompson reminded in frustration.

"Then, I will leave this position. I do not want to be your wife anymore. Give me a divorce and I will leave," Maureen replied.

Duke Thompson saw the undisguised hatred in her gaze. When he had decided to marry her not minding that she had been with another man was because he lived her. Since their chance encounter at the party he had loved her. He thought that with her husband died he could have her, he did not expect to be met with her hatred.

’ahh! You think I am a fool?" Duke Thompson rejected. of course he could never let her leave his control. No matter how much he liked lady maureen his true love had always been himself and his noble status.

The issue dragged for a while before they both took a step back, leading to lady Maureen becoming his official mistress while hearried a new duchess.